Thankful Thursday - 10/8

5 Things I am thankful for this week:

1. I am SO THANKFUL that my medical tests last Thursday were all okay. I've mentioned it several times, but that is because I am so thankful! Amen!

2. I am thankful to attend a church I love. I enjoy it so much and am being fed.

3. I am thankful for my Bible study leader who gives her time and energy and is so encouraging and nice. She is the greatest!

4. I am thankful for my sweet little dog, Buddy. He shows me such devotion and unconditional love. Even though he occasionally poops in the house, and he ate my favorite pair of slippers, I love that stupid dog. :-)



5. I'm thankful for everything I have, gifts from God!

James 1:17 -- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

What are you thankful for this week? Leave a comment, or you can write your own blog post and link up by clicking the Thankful Thursday button below.

Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I suddenly became very aware of it after having a questionable mammogram. I spent Oct 1 at the hospital having follow up tests done.* I suddenly realized why folks influenced by a potentially life threatening disease become passionate about the awareness to find a cure.

When my nephew was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (his story is here) my sister became a huge advocate for the awareness of his disease. This formerly introverted woman (yes, she really is my sister) suddenly because an extrovert where his disease was concerned.

A friend of mine has started wearing a bracelet for histiocytosis. You've probably never heard of it. She hadn't either until her nephew was diagnosed with it. Now everyone in her family wears the bracelets for awareness.

My revelation on awareness showed me why I am so passionate about Jesus. You see, I have a potentially life threatening disease too. It's called SIN. And I don't want to scare you, but you have it too. (And it seems to be highly contagious!). But because of Jesus, I'm in remission. I'm not cured, and I still have re-occurrences pop up from time to time. But because of Jesus, it's not a life or death situation. Quite the opposite, it's an eternal life situation.

If I seem to be a Jesus freak, it's because I am. Jesus has saved my life. And because of my "awareness" I want everyone else to be in "remission" too. Don't you?




Acts 2:38 -- Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NKJ)

*my follow-up tests were all negative. YAY!!

Date Night Photo

Here we are ready for our date night. I am wearing my platform shoes. My husband hates them, as they make me as tall as he is. heehee. I love heels!

Here's a full shot of my dress. The shoulders are beaded. You can't tell, but the middle has a ruched waist and a decorative pin at the gather.

Nothing

How many television channels do you have? If you are anything like me, you have hundreds. I believe we have about 400 channels. We have digital cable. But at any given time, when looking through the directory I see that "nothing" is on.

My clothes closet....let's just say I could stand to purge it. I am evidently addicted to buying black jackets and shoes, as I have way to many of both. I have slacks, capris, jeans, various shirts. But at any given time, when looking through my closet I see that I have "nothing" to wear.

My pantry is stocked, as is my refrigerator. We have a second refrigerator in the garage to hold the extra food in the freezer, plus water bottles, extra milk, and bulk food for my co-op cooking. Yet, at any give time, when looking for a snack I see we have "nothing" to eat.

Rooms in my house need cleaning out and purging. My desk is covered with papers that need to be filed. I have things to write for publication, laundry to wash, dinners to make, cards to write. But at any given time, I feel bored, because I have "nothing" to do.

Too many choices don't lead to more or better options. It often leads to nothing. Jesus said he is THE way, THE truth and THE life. He said no one comes to the Father EXCEPT through him. He is the only way.

Many people are searching for lots of other options. They try to get to heaven through being good. They think Budda or Allah are other options. There are new age choices, and ideas tauted on talk shows. A 2008 poll showed out of 35,000 Americans, 70% agreed with the statement "Many religions can lead to eternal life." Even more remarkable was the fact that 57% of Evangelical Christians were willing to accept that theirs might not be the only path to salvation.

There are lots of other options besides Jesus out there at any given time. However, I think you'll find that if you believe they will get you to heaven, what you'll really end up with is "nothing."*



* or worse...an eternity spent with out God, also know as hell.

Ecclesiastes 1:8 -- Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. (NLT)

(thanks for the prayers yesterday, my follow-up drs appointment went well. Yay!)

Thankful Thursday - 10/1

UPDATE TO #1 - My follow up went well. Yay! Re-check in 6 months, but all looks good. Thanks to all.

5 Things I'm thankful for this week:

1. Praying friends (yes again!) I had a "routine" annual exam come back with a blip, so this afternoon I'm having a follow-up. My gal pals are praying, calling and emailing me like crazy. I love these ladies. I'm sure it's nothing, but boy does it feel good to have prayer support.

2. Wednesdays at church! I don't have to cook dinner, and I get fed physically and spiritually! Woo! And my kids have fun learning and doing crafts. Yes!

3. Date night! My husband and I have a date night...a black tie event no less, this weekend. I'll post pictures next week of us in our finery. Very excited and thankful that we'll have some couple time.

4. Validation. Who doesn't want that? I got my first examiner payout on my "Tips for Moms" site. If you'd like to find out how you can get paid to write about things in your area, email me! I love my blogging...but to get paid for writing is icing on the cake!

5. Books! I love reading, and this reviewing thing is bringing more new and free books my way. I love to read, I love to give my opinion, and I love free stuff! What could be better than that?

What are you thankful for this week?

Book Review: Perseverance

Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors is a book about young cancer survivors. Filled with hope and courage, Perseverance tells the story of twenty young people diagnosed with childhood cancer. Each chapter is a different person's story.

Each chapter is a first person account of that individuals diagnosis and cancer fight. The stories were all so different, but they all shared the same perseverance. Some persevered through their faith. Others through family encouragement. Some battled through alone, as their friends seemed to disappear during their trails. Others took their friendships to the next level, by the love and support shown.

I really enjoyed the conclusion of each chapter, which shared what the survivor was doing now. To read through the story, and then learn that they've married, or are in college now answered my "where are they now" questions.

The only aspect of the book I didn't like, was how each chapter was introduced by the author (Carolyn Rubenstein). Because her introduction was first person, then the story of the survivor was first person, it was a bit confusing. I don't think her relationship to the survivor, how she met them, or how she felt about them was in any way relevant to their stories (which is what the book is about), and by removing herself from the book, it would have been a much tighter story. (it was a very long, nearly 400 page book.)

I do admire the author, who since age 14 has worked with children with cancer, and who offers a scholarship program for childhood cancer survivors. However, I think she could have covered herself in an introduction in the book, and then let the stories each stand on their own.

The book concludes with a list of organizations that help kids with cancer and a medical glossary. I think these additions were very beneficial to the book.

Jamie Saunders, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her freshman year of high school, said, “I know I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for the fact that I had cancer.” Nearly all of the survivors shared that belief.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I will note that it is not a faith-based book, and that while some of the survivors credit God, some question their faith or faith is not a part of their story. But it is an inspiring book that shows that cancer can be beaten, that young people are resilient, and that trials and tribulations bring opportunities for triumphs.

Finding Cici, Finding God

It was an unusually hectic football game. My six-year-old daughter was cheering, while I was coaching her squad. It was “bring a friend” day, so instead of the usual eight girls, we had 16…and the assistant coach was absent. I was on my own with 16 six-year-old girls!

I was also trying to keep one eye on my 19-month-old daughter that my husband was “watching.” She’d toddle over to me and I’d send her back to her daddy so I could concentrate on the game. After the game, I was busily handing out drinks and snacks when I noticed my husband walking back from the trashcan…without our younger daughter, Cici.

I looked over at all the cheerleaders to see if she was with them. She wasn’t. I quickly glanced over the football field. I didn’t see her. That anxious feeling every mom has experienced started up my throat. My eyes again darted from the cheerleaders to the field. By this point I could hear my heart pounding, and I thought I might start screaming.

I grabbed one of the other moms by the arm and screeched, “You have to help me. I can’t find Cici!” She looked confused and asked, “What do you mean?” I gulped, barely able to talk by now, “I can’t find Cici!” I yelled at her. She looked at me and responded softly, “You’re holding her.”

I looked in my arm and there was my daughter, oblivious to my peril. I was holding her all the time! She must have toddled over while I was handing out the snack. I scooped her up and kept on working never even realizing I had done it. I fell against the other mom just for a moment, my adrenalin failing now. “You must never tell anyone this.” I said, half ordering and half begging. “Okay,” she responded, “But if you don’t get off me, people are going to wonder what’s going on.” I straightened up and finished the rest of my duties as gracefully as possible under the circumstances, and then went home and cried. How could I have not even realized I was holding my own child?

Later I realized something bigger. On those hectic days when I’m making dinner, and the children are bickering, and my husband calls to say he’ll be late, I call out “God, where are you? I’m looking God, but I can’t find you!”

I don’t realize that He’s holding me. Like that day at the football field, I am just too busy to realize it. Psalm 121:1,2 says “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

We all have hectic schedules. Sometimes it feels like we don’t have any help. We do. God is holding you! You can feel the same sweet relief that I felt that day: “What once was lost, now is found!” Amazing. Grace.




This article by me is a reprint that first appeared in Vista, Journal for Holy Living, 8/16/09. This is a true story that happened in 2005. The "other mom" that helped me find Cici (in my arms) was Sue J.